Raid at the cryptocurrency magazine ForkLog: Ethereum, equipment, and a bottle of rum were seized

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted a search of the office of ForkLog and the apartment of the founder of the publication, Anatoly Kaplan. ForkLog - the largest Russian language online magazine...

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted a search of the office of ForkLog and the apartment of the founder of the publication, Anatoly Kaplan. ForkLog - the largest Russian language online magazine...

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted a search of the office of ForkLog and the apartment of the founder of the publication, Anatoly Kaplan. ForkLog - the largest Russian language online magazine about cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies is based in Odessa.

According to law enforcement, suspects from the United States and Ukraine are accused in a criminal case of theft in which they cashed out Bitcoins through the site forklog.com. This was stated by the suspects themselves and this is a complete lie: ForkLog is an information resource that does not provide the services of an exchange.

Cold crypto-storage wallets, a computer, and other items were taken from Anatoly Kaplan. During the search, a member of the security service tried to transfer Kaplan's Bitcoins to his wallet. But after Kaplan called the police, he abandoned his attempt. However, after the search all the Ethereum and other coins were gone. They tried to remove the Hryvnia from his bank card as well. The fate of the Bitcoins is still not known.

At the same time, the office of ForkLog was raided. The authorities seized cash, 10 iMac computers, and a bottle of rum from it.

Kaplan and his lawyer point to a number of violations that were committed during the search. In the judge's decision there was no clause on the confiscation of equipment, besides, the SBU's employees prevented the filming of the seizures, which is prohibited by Ukrainian law. Finally, the transfer of the cryptocurrency to accounts held by the SBU is, of course, not part of any protocols and is a crime.

Kaplan's lawyer compares the actions of the Security Service with a targeted raid. In 2015, the pressure of the authorities was felt by IT companies and 2,500 specialists left the country. Now it is the turn of the cryptocurrency business.

The lawyer stated his intention to have the stolen equipment returned and then tackle the stolen cryptocurrency and bring the investigation team to justice. The lawyer believes that this case will be "significant and indicative".

Anatoly Kaplan believes that this case is important for everyone who is connected with cryptocurrency and blockchain technology since it is an illustration of the interaction of the state system with the crypto community.

There haven't been any official statements from the SBU as of yet. On their website ForkLog is not mentioned.

Hitecher staff writer, high tech and science enthusiast. His work includes news about gadgets, articles on important fundamental discoveries, as well as breakdowns of problems faced by companies today. Evan has his own editorial column on Hitecher.